Cambridge & Pearson Edexcel Past Paper Questions

Which circuit contains a fuse and a rectifying diode?

An immersion heater is labelled 12V, 60 W. What is the current in the heater when connected to a 12V supply?

Each of the diagrams shows a cross-section through two parallel, current-carrying conductors. Which diagram shows the shape of the magnetic field p...

The diagram shows a simple d.c. motor. What is the part labelled Q?

The diagram shows the N-pole of a magnet moving into, and out of, a coil of wire. This movement produces a current in the coil of wire. The current...

A simple a.c. generator produces an alternating e.m.f. as shown. The speed of the generator is doubled. Which graph best represents the new output?

What is required to operate a reed relay in a switching circuit?

In the simple model of an atom, X orbits around Y. What are X and Y?

In nuclear ……………1………………, hydrogen nuclei ......2...... to form helium nuclei, releasing energy. Which words correctly complete gaps 1 and 2?

Which nucleus is produced when thorium-223 (²²³₉₀Th) emits an alpha-particle?

When there is no wind, the engines of an airship push it due north at 20 m/s. The wind is blowing from the west at 12 m/s. Which vector diagram cor...

A length of copper pipe, of uniform cross-section and several metres long, carries water to a tap. Measurements are taken to determine accurately t...

An object moves from P to Q in 10s with uniform acceleration. velocity at P = 5 m/s velocity at Q = 12 m/s What is the acceleration?

A student kicks a ball horizontally along the ground. As he does so, his foot applies a force to the ball. At the same time, the ball applies a for...

A spacecraft travels from the Earth to the Moon. At a certain point in the journey, it has zero weight. Why is the weight zero at this point?

A piece of uniform card is suspended freely from a horizontal pin. Which point is its centre of mass?

An extension-load graph is plotted to show the result of increasing the load on a spring. Which point marks the limit of proportionality for this s...

Four different liquids are poured into identical measuring cylinders. The diagrams show the depths of the liquids and their densities. Which liquid...

A manometer is attached to a gas cylinder as shown. What is the pressure difference, in cm of water, shown by the manometer?

Three objects P, Q and R have different masses and different speeds as shown in the table. What is the order of increasing kinetic energy (smallest...

Which energy resource comes from hot rocks beneath the Earth's surface?

On a cold afternoon, a house loses 54 MJ of thermal energy (heat) to its surroundings as shown. The heating system must supply more than 54 MJ of t...

The temperature shown by a mercury-in-glass thermometer increases. Which of the following is constant?

The diagram shows a clinical thermometer. Which factor affects the sensitivity of the thermometer?

The length of mercury in the bore of a thermometer is 5.0 cm at 0°C and 11.0 cm at 60°C. What is the length in the bore when the temperature is –10°C?

When a person climbs out of a warm swimming pool on a hot summer day, he feels cold. Why does this happen?

Which row correctly describes the shape and volume of a gas?

The diagram shows a ball floating in a tank of water. Which diagram shows the movement of the ball as the wave passes?

Which diagram represents the reflection of light along an optical fibre?

The diagram shows rays of light. What is in the space labelled X?

The table lists the main components of the electromagnetic spectrum and their approximate frequency range. Which range of frequencies can be used t...

The graph shows how the pressure varies as a sound wave passes through air. Which point represents a compression?

The sounds produced by two musical instruments are directed towards a microphone connected to an oscilloscope (c.r.o.). The waveforms produced on t...

The diagram shows the shape of the magnetic field lines near a current-carrying conductor. The current in the conductor is into the plane of the di...

Two charged conducting spheres are placed close to one another. One sphere is positively charged and the other is negatively charged. Which diagram...

Which row shows a conductor and an insulator?

Which of the following is equivalent to one coulomb?

The diagram shows a circuit in which all the switches are open. Which switch positions give a resistance of 6.0 Ω between X and Y?

The circuit shows three resistors connected to a cell. The resistors have different values of resistance. V₁ and V₂ are potential differences and I...

A transformer is used to operate a 12 V lamp from a 250 V mains supply. The mains current is 0.10 A. The current in the lamp is 2.0 A. What is the ...

A current-carrying wire lies between the poles of two magnets, as shown. What is the direction of the force on the wire?

The graph shows the output of an a.c. generator. The coil in the generator rotates 20 times in one second. The speed of rotation of the coil steadi...

Which material is used for the core of a transformer and why?

Which particles are emitted in the process of thermionic emission?

A thermistor and a light-dependent resistor are connected in series. Which conditions give the largest resistance?

What are the characteristics of an alpha-particle?

Alpha-particles pass through an electric field or a magnetic field. How is the path of the particles affected by these fields?

Which row is correct for nuclear fission and for nuclear fusion?

The compositions of four nuclei are shown in the table. Which two nuclei are isotopes of the same element?

Forces of 25 N and 40 N act on an object in the directions shown. Which arrow shows the direction of the resultant force on the object?